Analysis
9/20/21
3 min read
Inside the Numbers: Week 2 Winners
Each week The 33rd Team will review Sunday's games by looking behind the box score to find the key statistics that affected the outcome of each game. Here, we will look at why these teams won:
Baltimore Ravens 36 – Kansas City Chiefs 35
Ravens Key Stat: 7 Explosive Rushes (10+ yards)
In a career filled with highlight rushes, Lamar Jackson just put up only the 11th quarterback performance ever with 100+ rushing yards and 2+ rush touchdowns. Only Jackson and 1960’s legend Billy Kilmer have put up multiple such performances, with Kilmer, in particular, accomplishing the feat in three consecutive weeks. Regardless, the Ravens managed 0.265 EPA per rush and 251 yards, giving them a consistent output that allowed a perfect 4 for 4 red zone outing.
Washington Football Team 30 – New York Giants 29
Washington Key Stat: 4 Second-half Scoring Drives (of 6 attempts)
Despite a slow start, Washington showed some promise with two long scoring drives in the first half and managed to turn it on in the second half. Outside of a bad late-game interception, Taylor Heinicke led his offense to 247 yards after the break and consistently kept pressure on the Giants to produce as the defense fatigued. Getting the ball back at the two-minute warning down two, Washington marched down the field and set up for a game-winning field goal albeit with two tries.
Los Angeles Rams 27 – Indianapolis Colts 24
Rams Key Stat: 0.415 EPA per Pass
New Rams QB Matthew Stafford didn’t have the prettiest box score, but the Rams offense as a whole continued to excel with 8.7 yards per dropback and a 60% red zone success rate. Carson Wentz and the Colts tied the game late but Stafford went 3/4 on the ensuing drive and Sony Michel ran the clock out to give LA the win.
Denver Broncos 23 – Jacksonville Jaguars 13
Broncos Key Stat: 154 Yards Allowed in the First Three Quarters
After Jacksonville opened the game with a long touchdown drive, Denver locked down and didn’t allow the Jaguars offense a single point the rest of the game. By playing clean, sound coverage, Denver didn’t need to pressure Trevor Lawrence but instead took away all of his options, allowing only 114 passing yards and collecting two INTs. With this, Teddy Bridgewater and co. had an average starting field position on the 32 yard-line and produced enough to complement the defense.
Cleveland Browns 31 – Houston Texans 21
Browns Key Stat: 29.4% pressure rate
With spotty help in the secondary, Myles Garrett and co. still managed to ratchet up the pressure on the Texans QBs and force a quick-passing attack that had an ADOT of only 5.6 yards. Seven different defenders managed to pick up a pressure (per PFF), including a game-high four from Jadeveon Clowney as he lived in the backfield and picked up 2 QB hits. Although Tyrod Taylor played efficiently, this kind of defensive pressure was simply unfair for a rookie quarterback in his first game action (Davis Mills) and the Browns’ domination took home the win.
